Tampa Volleyball Claims Top-10 Rank in Latest AVCA Poll
The Spartans sit No. 8 in the nation after suffering a loss at the hands of Palm Beach Atlantic University.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – After suffering a 3-0 loss to then-No. 14 Palm Beach Atlantic on the road, the University of Tampa volleyball team slides to No. 8 in the latest release of the American Volleyball Coaches Association coaches' poll on Monday.
The Spartans enter the week with a 22-5 overall record and an 11-1 mark in Sunshine State Conference play. UT clinched at least a share of the 2015 SSC title with a 3-0 sweep of Barry University on Saturday, the 11th consecutive conference crown and 25th in program history.
Concordia, St. Paul remains ranked as the top team in Division II, picking up 29 first-place votes. Southwest Minnesota State polls at No. 2 for the second-consecutive week while Northern State slides in at No. 3. Tied for fourth is Wayne St. (Neb.) and Ferris State as the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference holds the top four teams ranked in this week's poll.
Wheeling Jesuit and Rockhurst occupy the No. 6 and No. 7 spots while Minnesota-Duluth (No. 9) and Palm Beach Atlantic (No. 10) round out the top 10.
The Sailfish took a three-set victory at home over Tampa, as the Spartans made their first trip to Rubin Arena. The win catapulted PBA to a top-10 ranking as the team had never won a match over the Spartans previous to the upset.
SSC rival Florida Southern moves up two spots from last week, coming in at No. 17 in the latest release. Tampa will host the Mocs on Saturday for a 2 p.m. contest as UT won the road matchup in five-set fashion earlier in the season.
West Florida is the lone remaining South Region foe as the Argonauts creep into the No. 22 spot.
The Spartans have been ranked for 266 consecutive AVCA polling periods, a mark that ranks second only to No. 13 Central Missouri, as both are active program records. UT holds the Division II record for most times ranked in the top 10 with 257 releases of the AVCA coaches' poll and have garnered a top-10 rank for 145 consecutive polls.
Tampa will play its remaining four regular-season contests at home, hosting Florida Tech on Thursday, Nov. 12 to begin the series. Live stats as well as a live video webcast will be made available through www.tampaspartans.com.
Click here for the complete AVCA Week 10 release
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